People We Like

New Diva in Town?

ciara-work-video-photos-02[1].jpgOkay, Ciara isn’t exactly a new singer on the scene, but people are starting to talk about her real potential to become a new musical style icon, à la Beyoncé, Lady Gaga or Rihanna. We’re not so sure.

We liked the “Love Sex Magic” video, but not totally because of its style. Well, we dug the zebra print jumper, and the white leotards were classy, and the girl is seriously bend-y in serious heels. But mostly it was insanely sexy and our heart stopped a little when she licked Justin Timberlake’s ear. But we were excited to see what she was bringing to the table this time around.

We enjoyed Ciara, Missy and the dancers acting incredibly intense with their heels and their power tools, but her frequent costume changes—a music video staple—came off as clunky and unnatural. And none of the looks really impressed us. And then the dancing sort of looked like they were seizing.

So while we’re not yet convinced Ciara’s the next music/fashion megastar, we’re way more than willing to give her a chance to prove us wrong.

—AMANDA JEAN BOYLE

Comments

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1

posted by guest

Jun 30, 2009 1:46PM

she's probably the hottest thing ever

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2

posted by doll

Jun 30, 2009 1:55PM

I love that she is someone new on the (fashion) scene, but can she please do something other than the leotard-robo-futuristic look EVERYONE has been doing?

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3

posted by guest

Jun 30, 2009 1:58PM

i think there's a potential in her that is just starting to grow, who knows, she might get even better than the other musical style icons,,

btw, love her in 'never ever' video,, i'm jealous with her big beautiful curly hair!

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4

posted by guest

Jun 30, 2009 2:10PM

Lady Gaga is so annoying, she doesn't belong in the same category as Beyonce and Rihanna. Ciara has always been original. If you go and look back at her past videos shes always been up on fashion. Go watch "Promise" (2006) for example.
That robotic Thierry Mulger looking suit that Lady Gaga is wearing in her Papparazzi video is just like the one Ciara is wearing in "Go Girl" that came out last fall. Everything Lady Gaga does seems so contrived.
And how dare you compare her dancing to seizures; she can out dance Rihanna, Beyonce, and Lady Gaga (which by the way can't dance at all) put together.

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5

posted by guest

Jun 30, 2009 2:14PM

Lady Gaga is clunky and unnatural in everything she does.

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posted by guest

Jun 30, 2009 3:20PM

They are ALL styled. The end. But I will say that Ciara looks as if she trys the hardest out of all the girls.

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posted by guest

Jun 30, 2009 3:37PM

While I totally appreciate all the above mentioned artists...

1) Rihanna and Lady Gaga cannot dance. period. They're entire performances usually consist of having a crowd of dancers surrounding them so that no one notice that they themselves lack the talent to do so.

2) Beyonce, I'm sorry, she is ridiculously talented but a style icon, really? What about her personal style isn't completely commercial? And her performance style always seems contrived because it never matches her personal style.

Give Ciara a chance, she's come a looong way; particularly style wise. Her last 3 videos were great, I just don't think she's getting the right attention for it.

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posted by guest

Jun 30, 2009 3:50PM

Love Sex Magic was awful.

To me, it came off as the closest thing Ciara could do to be like Beyonce. That gyrating thing with her leg...eck.

Lady Gaga knows she is contrived. That's apart of her style. She sees her music as art, and expresses it with everything she does. I don't agree with her choices, but I see where she is coming from.

Beyonce...great music. But not a style icon. She dresses really well, but so do many other people. I would also say that whenever she puts on a House of Dereon she starts looking tacky.

Rihanna's music is great, and I see her being a style icon...but she can't dance either. I think both Lady Gaga and Beyonce can. But Rihanna seems like the most made for music artist.

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posted by Modupe

Jun 30, 2009 4:54PM

i knew this post would come soon...

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posted by Jac

Jun 30, 2009 5:07PM

oops, sorry, but i must defend....

Lady Gaga writes her own music, has a huge hand in designing her sets and style, composes her music AND CAN SING AND PLAY. Rihanna does not write or produce her own music and is styled by someone else. Same with B to an extent. So, yes, you are right, they are not at all in the same category.

11

posted by maladroite

Jun 30, 2009 6:33PM

While that song is absolutely annoying, the style is boring. Leopard bodysuit? Cutout tuxedo?

Actually I think I've seen a similar cage-suit a year ago on Victoria Beckham in Headlines(sans the denim).

tdotfashion.blogspot.com

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12

posted by etoilee8

Jun 30, 2009 7:05PM

Yeah I agree with Jac. Out of everyone, though I find her music irritating, Lady Gaga seems like the only one who actually knows what she's talking about in regards to fashion. Every time I see Beyonce rocking something fashion forward, I can just hear her saying "my stylist says if I wear this, people will consider me 'edgy' ".

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13

posted by guest

Jun 30, 2009 8:32PM

People are only commenting on Love Sex Magic. Go look up the video the post is about on youtube first then comment.

Guest : Wayy better than Lady Gaga. "Lady Gaga knows she is contrived"... thats even worse, the fact that she knows it.


Video: Ciara "Work"

14

posted by Hannah A

Jun 30, 2009 9:11PM

Ciara has style but it doesn't feel genuine. Lady Gaga can come off as crazy or whatever you may call it but you can tell that it is her style. Out of all the female artists listed, Rihanna is definitely the one out of the bunch that could style something up effortlessly if put on the spot. And then it would be Lady Gaga.

Beyonce has had hit and miss moments so I dunno about her. I do love that she has come with something different to the table. And this is coming from a HUGE Beyonce fanatic.

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posted by guest

Jun 30, 2009 9:20PM

I HATE THEM ALL. None of these women should be looked at as style icons. There are much better organically stlylish celebs out there.

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16

posted by guest

Jul 01, 2009 11:57AM

Ciara certainly has been bubbling under in terms of her music and style for a few years now.

Her Prince-inspired 'Promise' song/video were really impressive and very different from everyone else in the RnB diva pile (Ashanti and co.).

The problem I think she's having right now is that Beyonce and Rihanna have cornered the market on 'edgy' and 'futurustic' style over the past year and a half so everything she comes out with in terms of her image seems a little bit 'been there, done that'.

One thing she does have going for her is that she has consistently released catchy singles with varying degrees of success but her work with Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and Missy Elliot hasn't exactly given her her own sound yet.

What I think she needs to do is make good on the many Janet comparisons she kept on getting a few years ago (say what you will, the girl can dance) and release a hardcore RnB/Dance album with a new look that separates her from the pack.
Forming a bond with a specific designer and sticking with one style would go a long way.

17

posted by Pretty Young Thing

Jul 01, 2009 2:47PM

I agree with #16. I do adore Rihanna and, to an extent, Beyonce, but if Ciara partnered with a designer she could greatly enhance her career. She's insanely gorgeous and she has the bad-girl look that would perfectly suit Alexander Wang... so she'd get away from the ubiquitous sexy-robot style but still maintain edge and sex appeal.

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posted by grammyweezy

Jul 01, 2009 5:00PM

I definitely agree with no. 12

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19

posted by guest

Jul 02, 2009 5:29PM

Beyonce always looks the same. Her line House of Dereon is tacky and guetto.

Ciara looks like she is trying to be like the rest of the manufactured artists with theyre futuristic style.

Lady Gaga at least isnt copying anyone.

And no, I dont think Ciara can be the next icon unless they manufactur her that way like they did to the rest.

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posted by guest

Jul 06, 2009 5:13AM

Ciara looks way too unatural. It just isn't her style! She looked better as the Southern girl-next-door/tomboy. It was her. Just like Beyonce just shouldn'y wear Gareth Pugh! Rihanna's got it down. The person u should be looking out for as an R&B fashionista is Keri Hilson. She's been looking awesome!

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posted by holyomg

Sep 01, 2009 11:12AM

I'm desperately waiting for the day when no one remembers who beyonce is. She has zero talent and has become big thanks to all the talent behind her.

I don't understand how lady gaga even got into this comparison. She's almost over already isn't she? Once people realized that they couldn't really tell the difference between any of her songs?

I didn't like Ciara when she first came out. I thought her voice was awful and I was pretty sure she couldn't dance, because they never quite showed her dancing for more than a few seconds at a time. Then "Oh" came out and she turned me completely around. Seeing her dance on top of the car, the song, everything. Since then, I've been a big fan. She does something a little different with each album and she has definitely refined herself into a powerhouse. I enjoy her in a way I enjoy very few artists.

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